Meals From The Heartland Kick Off Feeds 12,528

Over 12,000 meals packaged during the MLKing Day launch event

Des Moines, Iowa – In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Drake University hosted a kick-off packaging event for Meals from the Heartland on Monday, Jan. 19. A group of approximately 50 people, made up mostly of Drake athletes and the Wells Fargo Diversity Group, gathered at the Drake Knapp Center to package 12,528 meals in one hour for Iowa’s homeless.

“We are excited to both kick off our 2009 Meals from the Heartland campaign and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with our partners from Drake Athletics,”  said Mark Aeilts, Meals from the Heartland spokesperson and board chair. “We welcome all Iowan’s, businesses, schools, churches and organizations to join us in our fight against hunger and look forward to a successful 2009.”

The event kicked off the Meals from the Heartland 2009 effort, which includes a week-long packaging event in September, with the goal of producing at least 4 million meals to be shipped and provided to the hungry around the world. The organization’s 2008 effort resulted with more than 12,000 Iowa volunteers packaging more than 4 million meals. The meals were delivered to the hungry in Haiti.

The pre-packaged meals consist of rice, soy, flour, dried vegetables and a vitamin tablet. Each package feeds a family of six and costs $.25 to produce.

Organizers for Meals from the Heartland are trying to raise awareness for the cause and the need for donations and volunteers. For more information on the effort, visit www.mealsfromtheheartland.org or call (515) 422-9133.

Meals From The Heartland MLK Day Kick-Off

For immediate release – January 19, 2009

What: In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Meals from the Heartland and Drake University are hosting a kick-off

The 2009 Drake men's basketball team showed up for the event and helped us package in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

event for the 2009 food packaging effort. Drake athletes and Wells Fargo Diversity Group employees will package food to be provided to those in need in central Iowa.

Who: Meals from the Heartland, Drake University and Wells Fargo employees.

Where: Drake Knapp Center

When: Monday, January 19, 2009
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Welcome/Videos
10:20 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.    MLK Day/2009 Overview
10:25-10:30                        2009 Dates and Goals
10:30-Noon                        Meal Packaging

Why: In September 2008, more than 12,000 Meals from the Heartland volunteers packaged 4 million meals that were shipped and delivered to starving Haitians. The effort resulted in a groundswell of Iowa pride, not only among the thousands of Iowans who volunteered for the event, but also in the hearts and minds of people nationally and internationally who became aware of the effort. Meals from the Heartland will be holding the same event in September 2009, with the goal of meeting or exceeding 4 million meals. The partnership with Drake to help kick-off the year is a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others?’”

A Brief Overview of Meals from the Heartland 2009

MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND – 2009

• The goal for the 2008 inaugural event was to package 3 million meals; volunteers packaged over 4 million meals by the end of the event
• The 2008 event attracted over 12,000 Iowa volunteers
• Each meal package feeds a family of 6
• Each meal package costs $.25 to produce
• Each meal package contains rice, soy flour, dried vegetables (carrot, onion, tomato, celery, cabbage, bell pepper)
• Nutritional information: for each ½ cup dry serving there are: 226 calories, 0 grams total fat, 418 mg sodium, 424 mg potassium, 42 g total carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber 2g sugars, 11 g protein
• 2008 MftH food packages were delivered to the hungry in Haiti
• MftH events are 100% volunteer coordinated
• The Martin Luther King, Jr. event is the first of approximately four events taking place throughout 2009 to help create awareness for the big Meals from the Heartland event scheduled for September 2009
• These “mini” events serve multiple purposes: raise awareness for the cause, engage community businesses/individuals in the event, and help with fundraising/donation efforts
• MftH depends on in-kind, monetary, and raw material donations for its success
• Monetary donations are accepted by contacting MftH at 515.422.9133 or through our donate page.
• Groups/businesses interested in hosting a “mini” event should call MftH at 515.422.9133

Contact: Mark Aeilts
markaeilts@wellsfargo.com
515.943.0223